A special prosecutor approved the charges against Blackmore and James Oler, known as the Bishops of the community of Bountiful.

Oler and two others are also charged with the unlawful removal of children from Canada.

All the charges date back from the early 1980s to the present.

But on Thursday Blackmore was once again citing his right to religious freedom.

“Anyone who knows anything at all about the original doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knows that that original doctrine included the principal of plural marriages,” said Blackmore. “It included congregational living, community living, where people work together for the good of the whole.”

“I certainly do get tired of this constant legal battle,’ he added. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another thing, and it’s become very tiresome. But on October the 9th, at the Creston provincial courthouse, I plan on showing up there and answering these charges.”